Our SunRun Solar 1st Anniversary!

OK, it's kind of weird to be talking about solar power during a snow storm, but here we go!

It's been a year since we "threw the switch" and started generating electricity by solar power at our house.

I guess the best phrase that describes the whole experience is "Exceeds Expectations." Frankly, when the representative from SunRun came to our house I expected a high pressure sales pitch. But about half an hour into the presentation, we were asking "Where do we sign?" It just made sense from the get-go.

There are as many options as to where you want to install your system as there are ways to pay for it. The key part is it's affordable and it works.

Every part of the process from permitting, HOA approval, structural checks and getting an additional meter installed that runs both ways (more on that in a moment) by Xcel Energy took a very short time. Our system has 24 panels on the part of our roof that has about a 98% southern exposure. Our location was prime for solar. But the folks at SunRun can facilitate just about any roof design for great production. The actual installation took about 3 days. Every step of the way, the folks at SunRun were very helpful and professional.

So how did we do?

• We've generated over 8500 kWh of power.
• We've consumed about 7700 kWh. We produced more than we used, so at the end of the year we'll get a credit back from Xcel. We sold power BACK to the power company. A neat feeling! Our Xcel meter goes both ways, nice to see not what you're using, but how much you're selling back to the utility!

We certainly used a lot of power this past summer, with a record number of 90+ degree days. But it was good to have the AC running and not worry about sticker shock when the electric bill came. The best days to generate power obviously are sunny days. But even on cloudy days you still generate power. Where's there's light in the sky, those solar panels are doing their job. 

How did we do helping the environment? Here are the numbers:

• We saved over 13 thousand pounds of CO2 Emissions. That's over 6 tons. Just one house.
• Installing the system was like NOT driving over 13,600 miles in a car.
• It's also equal to planting 153 trees. (And you don't have to rake the leaves!)

There are several options to monitor your system. We have the meters at the back of our house, there is a small electrical box installed in the basement and of course you can login to your account online.

I recently testified to the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission in support of the oil and gas industry. A bit of an oxymoron in a way but my point to them is we folks on Main Street are finding alternatives that in the long run will make us energy dependent and earth friendly. (I also drive a hybrid) But it's going to take a generation or even two before the impact of alternative energy will be felt.

Government, in my opinion, is full of pie in the sky ideas of massive solar and wind farms. Thousand of acres in size. Yeah, right. This is the same government that designed our tax code and has us over $16 Trillion in debt.

The solution lies on Main Street USA. We're going to need a thriving oil and gas industry for years to come, a well-regulated industry but one we'll need to depend on, at least in the short-term. But solar is real, it's here and you can start using at your house in no time.

Look at what we generated at our house, and the positive environmental impact it had. All from just one house. Go Green, Save Green. Some day when we put our house up for sale, we can advertise "Free electricity!" How's that for curb appeal?

Clean energy dependence starts at home. One house, one street, one community at a time.

It works.

Brian Olson

Owner/Consultant-Conversation Starters Public Relations

"We start the conversation about you!"

Fiscal Cliff: Cutting Through The Crap with Social Media

 This past Friday we were talking Social Media Strategies at a Meetup group we sponsor. Social Media has absolutely changed the way we communicate and listen, to interact and be empowered as consumers.

What's too often lost in all the Social Media Jargon (and there's far too much) is content. Telling a story, making it impactful. You know, meaningful on Main Street. Passing the "So what?" test.

We're being bombarded right now with terms like "Fiscal Cliff" and "Kick the can down the road" to the point of not giving a darn anymore. It's just so much noise. The same noise. Over and over and over.

The huge deficit hanging over our heads is going to most impact the so-called "Millennial Generation." These are the younger folks entering the work place, looking to live the good life like their parents did. The above mentioned "noise" isn't getting their attention.

So here's a perfect example of using Social Media to grab them by the shoulders, shake them hard and tell them to wake up before it's too late. I'm not surprised it features my old friend, veteran straight talker and now Gangnam dude, Senator Alan K. Simpson.

Watch:



Now that's the power of creativity, messaging for successful communication in today's digital world! It all starts with stepping away from the traditional and being anything but.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Canless Air System offers Solution to Canned Air Pollution

 A Clean, Green Solution to Canned Air Pollution

First, a disclaimer. I'm blogging (and bragging) about a client's product, the 02 Hurricane Canless Air System.

Why am I blogging about it? The next time IT comes by your desk to clean your computer with so-called canned "air," read the label on the can. The next time you reach for canned "air" on a shelf at home, read the label on the can.

Then you'll understand.

The stuff is marketed under product names like Dust-Off, Dust-Pro, Innovera and many others. The Consumer Specialty Association estimates over 30 million cans of the stuff is produced each year. They all have one thing in common: They're DANGEROUS!

For years I thought canned air was just that, air compressed in a can. Turns out, like a lot of folks I was fooled. Canned air is actually compressed, explosive and deadly gasses. The EPA classifies the used cans as hazardous waste. That's because they still contain residual and very dangerous liquids and gasses.

Another danger is something called inhalant abuse of "Huffing." An alarming number of people, sadly many of them kids, actually inhale the gasses from canned air for a scary and often deadly high. Just do a News.Google search with the search word "Huffing" and read the sad stories.

The 02 Hurricane is an alternative to all the dangerous canned stuff. It cleans and dusts with hurricane-like force. But there's a big difference. Actually several.

1. The 02 Hurricane uses the air we breathe. It draws it in, then blasts it out at 200 mph. It doesn't have a warning label because there's nothing to warn about.

2. It's rechargeable up to 500 times. Use it over and over. No hazardous waste because you don't throw it away.

3. Buying just one 02 Hurricane is equal to buying a thousand canned air dusters. You do the math.

The 02 Hurricane was designed for use like cleaning computers, delicate electronics and cameras. What's been great fun is hearing from customers and how they're finding different uses. It's great for dusting plants and collectables. How about blowing up a pool toy? Yep! Having a tough time getting the fire going in the fire place? Give it a blast of pure air. Something NOT recommended for the canned stuff, you'd likely blow up your house! It's also great for cleaning various filters and the nooks and crannies inside your car.

It's refreshing in this age where everyone is talking about green and sustainability when a product actually lives up to, in fact exceeds those expectations. Oh yeah, it's assembled right here in the USA.

A great product that's getting rave reviews just in case you don't want to take my word for it! Here's our most recent review on GeekBeatTV!



Green up your workplace or home and save green doing it. Win-Win.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Shooting from the Lip-The Life of Senator Al Simpson

I'm reading a delightful book, a must-read I think, for any political buff. It's about the life and times of Wyoming Senator Al Simpson. It's written with incredible detail by Don Hardy, Simpson's former Chief of Staff.

It's called "Shooting from the Lip-The Life of Senator Al Simpson."

Al instructed Don to tell the truth, the whole truth. Don was helped by thousands of pages of diaries and other records along of course by working the Senator in Washington.

While News Director at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne WY, I covered Senator Simpson during his tenure as Senator from 1979-2007. We've stayed in touch since. A remarkable man.

 

With the Senator in his Washington Office "Back in the Day"

 With Senator Simpson, Former Wyoming Governor Mike Sullivan and my wife Ronda at the LBJ Library at UT-Austin.

After his time in the Senate, he continues to serve. First as a member of the Iraq Study Group and most recently as Co-Chair of the Bi-Partisan Simpson-Bowles Commission, tasked with finding a way to dig ourselves out of a $16 Trillion deficit.

Both reports had/have real solutions, both were stuffed in a drawer. Washington is stupid that way, asking for answers then not listening to them. You should read the Simpson-Bowles Report, there is very little sugar to get the medicine down. But it offers real solutions, not political hoo-hah.

Al Simpson is a pretty well-known guy. He's famous for both his wit and ability to legislate. He understands compromise. One of his closest friends in the Senate was the late Ted Kennedy. Political opposites for sure. But both understood the whole concept of legislating is doing what's best for the people who elected them to do just that. They might fight it out on the Senate Floor or in Committee, but understood that compromise was the key. That and the fact they likely had dinner plans together with their wives!

Al served as Majority Whip in the Senate and it's rumored (and I believe it) he was offered the #2 spot on the ticket with Bush 41.

Al started out life as a trouble maker, getting into all sorts of trouble including a felony conviction. It's no small irony he went on to get a degree in law, then serve the nation with such devotion and accomplishment.

Shooting from the Lip is a rich history of a man rich in character and accomplishment. My favorite parts are witticisms like "I have come to know the difference between a horse race and a political race. In a horse race the entire horse runs."

He also speaks about Washington in his words, "Knowing full well that those who travel the high road of humility in this town are not really troubled by heavy traffic."

If you don't buy a copy for yourself, buy one for your Senator or House Representative. Now more than ever, everyone in Washington could learn a thing or two, or three from the tall, gangly galoot from Ole Wyo.

Shooting from the Lip would make a great movie. But the only person who could give the role any justice would have been the late Jimmy Stuart who is no longer with us. I'm just glad Al Simpson still is!
 
Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

When Johnny and Jane Come Marching Home. What's Next?

This past weekend the nation honored all those who have served, serve now and those who made the supreme sacrifice to keep us the "Land of the Free."

More focus is being placed on what happens when Johnny and Jane come marching home. Will there be jobs for them, will they be able to get an education, will they even have a place to live?

More importantly there's a growing focus on the quality of life they'll live. Earlier this year I had the honor of meeting Chad Robichaux. He's a PhD, MBA and Director of the Mighty Oaks Warrior Training Division. His resume also includes 8 tours in Afghanistan with the elite Marine Corps Force Recon. While I know just how he served those tours in Afghanistan and with whom, I'm only allowed to say he served "with small, specialized Naval units." You can do the math from there.

Chad and his team help soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He's qualified because he's a PTSD survivor himself. Both Chad and his wife are very candid about what they went through and how it motivated them to reach out and help others.

Chad runs his programs in Westcliffe, CO a small community nestled in the Wet Mountain Valley of South Central Colorado. Chad says many soldiers with PTSD tend to look for small towns because they can simply hide from family and society.

Chad shared some stunning numbers with me, numbers that I've verified because I didn't first believe them when I heard them. There are 58,000+ names on the Vietnam War Memorial. What is far less known is over 160,000 Vietnam-era troops have committed suicide. War victims just as if they'd been killed in combat. No monuments for them.

As for recent/current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan the numbers are equally stunning. The government tell us "officially" we're losing a vet from those conflicts to suicide every day. Chad says the number if much higher, well into the teens. Every day.

One of the problems is simply time spent in actual combat. Since World War II combat time has gone up. Here's what's posted on the Might Oaks website:

• World War II – 6 months
• Korea – 9 months
• Vietnam – 13 months
• Our current troops in Iraq / Afghanistan – 45 months

I asked Chad if more could be done starting with basic training to prepare for life after war. He says no. Our military are trained to fight, to seek out and destroy the enemy. But he adds, when they finally come home, it's up to us, the people they fought to defend, to step up and both recognize the signs of PTSD and reach out to help them.

It starts with the family unit. Chad has one program called "Fight Night." Because of his national reputation in Mixed Martial Arts, I thought he was using those skills as some sort of therapy. Instead he says, it's about these vets, who after fighting in times of war must now fight even harder for their families.

In the best of circumstances, the stress and strain on military families is enormous.

Ideally, the problems could all be solved if there were no more wars. Sadly, other people keep starting them and our men and women, as they've done since we became a nation step up to defend us.

The government is doing what it can, but it's not near enough. It's now more than ever, OUR duty to not only welcome them home, but for them to once again feel at home physically and emotionally.

For all of us the work begins right after we say "Welcome home soldier."

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Best Election Analysis Ever

We're being bombarded today, and will be in the days to come by pundits about "what happened?" last night.

Most of it is just blather. Oh bother. Why bother?

Back in 1994 I was News Director for KBMT-TV in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX. A Democrat, Jack Brooks, had served over 40 years representing our district. He's in the background of that iconic shot of LBJ taking the oath of office aboard Air Force One on that dark day in Dallas.

Brooks was beaten by a Republican upstart who ran his campaign out of his garage. It was a stunner of an upset.

The obvious question to Brooks was, "Why do you think you lost?" His response? "Because the other guy got more votes than I did."

An eyewitness to history with four decades in the house, he could have gone on and on. He instead decided simply to move on. After all, the other guy got more votes than he did.

A good example for all of us.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Making the case, again, for Cameras in the Courtoom.

Two horrific criminal cases here in the Denver area have me raising the issue of cameras in the courtroom, or in too many cases NO cameras in the courtroom.

I begin with the mass-shooting in Aurora. James Holmes is charged with shooting 12 people to death and wounding 58 others in a movie theater. Other than his initial appearance we the people have been denied live/taped coverage of proceedings. What we get are "Artist's Sketches" or in my opinion, cartoons.

                                                               (Courtesy: Denver Post)

Another sad case involves Austin Reed Sigg, charged with the abduction and subsequent murder of Jessica Ridgway.

Both have made the beginning of a line line of court appearances as the "justice" system drags on to a conclusion, we hope, likely years down the line.

Judges make the decision whether or not to allow cameras in courtrooms. Judges are either appointed to the bench by people we elect, or are elected themselves. They are servants of the people, not the other way around. But they are the undisputed rulers of their domains and in too many cases don't allow cameras, and by extension we to see the legal process as it happens, either live or taped.

Here are the current laws, by state as to access to courts by cameras.

As a 4-term board member of the Radio-Televison News Directors Association, I twice represented RTNDA (Now RTDNA) twice at the National Judicial College in Reno making the case for full access by cameras to courts ranging from Federal to Local. While many judges have saw the proverbial light, many have not. The most frequent push back I always got was that judges didn't want lawyers "showboating" in front of the cameras. Really? As opposed to showboating in front of juries and judges themselves?

The worst offender of course, is the highest court in the land, the United States Supreme Court. Other than the rarest of occasions with audio being allowed, nary a camera has made inside the room where the most important legal precedents of our nation are set. The Supreme Court Justices are appointed by an elected President and approved by an elected Senate. Servants all of we the people.

Coming full circle to the Holmes case, RTDNA Executive Director makes a clear and concise case in how a"Colorado Court got it wrong."  I've known Mike and worked with him for a long time and his points are well taken. Today's cameras as incredibly small. Surveillance cameras are everywhere, in private and public buildings, stop lights and the list goes on. Ironically courts use them in legal cases as evidence.

They just don't allow them to document the process itself. And that, is wrong.

The courts belong to us. The judges work for us. The time is long overdue for them to realize just that. Nothing about the judicial process should be cartoonish. Yet sadly, it is.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversations about you"

It's the Deficit Stupid!

This is not an endorsement of either major party candidate for President. Rather it's an endorsement of the one and only issue you need to think about before you cast your ballot.

The Deficit. Check out the National Debt Clock for the current, and very scary numbers. It's so huge that it defies description. How it will impact us all is easy. We're going broke. In fact we are broke.

As a nation we're like a bunch of people who got together for a big fancy steak dinner. We've chowed down on prime rib, filet mignon, drinking 18 year old scotch and are ordering cheesecake for desert. We're looking around the table figuring one of us is going to pick up the tab right?

Wrong. Everyone's credit card is maxed out and our only choice is to all try and sneak out on the bill or spend a long night washing dishes. Both solutions fraught with peril to our prestige as a nation. In fact our existence as a nation.

President Obama asked former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson and former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles to form a commission and come up with solutions. Both men are patriotic, brilliant and solution seekers. They put together a bi-partisan team and came up with a road map to reduce the monstrous deficit. Read it here.

After much praise and fanfare, it was stuffed in a drawer where it resides today. That's because there was no sugar in it to help the medicine go down. It's because it would require actual political courage to enact the measures to save us from joining Thelma and Louise driving off the edge of the Grand Canyon.

The debates are over. A myriad of pundits have opined. It's time to cast your ballot. Before you do, ask yourself which of the two candidates is best prepared to lead us in digging out of a very deep and dark financial hole. It will take no small amount of courage. It will take all of us to be part of the solution. All of us.

We can't have equal pay if there is no money. We can't have Medicare or Social Security if there is no money. We can't grow our economy if there is no money. We can't compete in the global market place if there is no money. We can't defend ourselves if there is no money.

There is no money.

The question isn't are we better off that we were four years ago. It's "Will we be better off as a nation four years from now?"

Ignore the made for TV sound bites. Ignore the nonsense being posted on Social Media. As Al Simpson says, look at the Math, not myth.

It's time to decide. While you do the National Debt Clock is ticking. Upward.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Walking to School

A week and a half ago, young Jessica Ridgeway left for school. Her mom watched her walk down the street on her way to a park where she'd meet friends for the rest of trip to school.

It was the last time she was seen alive. Her body was found a week later in a field. A community mourns and is anxious for revenge. There is a monster loose among us and if FBI profiles are to be believed, it's likely someone who's been in the community for a while.

Kids shouldn't disappear on the way to school. It's not right. It's a sad testimony how our civilization has become, less civilized.

We were in Atlanta visiting our own grand kids following the story online, hoping against hope for a happy ending. There was no happy ending.

Our grand kids are never out of the sight of family or very trusted adults. They're escorted to the bus stop for school, watched as they board and there is always someone there to pick them up after they get off the bus home.

All sorts of activities that kids do are monitored. Closely. It's the way our world is these days.

Growing up as a kid my friends and me walked to school right up to the time we were old enough to drive. We thought nothing of it. We'd walk to cub scout meetings, often at night albeit as a group but mostly without an adult escort.

We thought nothing of it.

I'll bet you when they catch the monster that did this, it (can't refer to it in human terms) will have a previous record. Just like the driver of the hit and run car that killed a young woman a few weeks earlier. One reporter on TV literally unfurled pages of documents showing the suspect had a LONG list of prior arrests for drugs, DUI and well, it was a long list. But the system kept on letting him out. An innocent woman is dead. Justice? Ask her family. It should never have been allowed to happen in the first place.

One of the problems with our so-called "Justice System" is we keep on letting bad people out over and over again, to commit crimes over and over again.

When the "Justice Center" was built in downtown Denver, much was made of its beauty of design. WHY? They should have taken a page out of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and built it ugly. An example of where you end up when you break the law. Arpaio gets all sorts of grief from a long list of liberal do-gooders. His response is simple and to the point. Don't break the law and I won't arrest you.

We have a second home in south-central Colorado and our drive down takes us by the Super Max in Florence. It's good to know that the place is designed to keep the worst monsters among us locked up and under control. In most cases they throw away the key.

If government insists on building "Shovel Ready" projects, then build more jails. Make them big, ugly and scary looking. We need judges who will put people away, literally when they do bad things. One thing I like about the Chinese system of justice is when you're convicted they take you out back and shoot you in the head. Cuts down on recidivism.

Do-gooders love to carry "Thou shalt not kill" signs. The quote is right, you're not supposed to kill but if you read further into scripture the point is made there's a price to pay when you do.

I hope they catch the monster that took Jessica away from us. I hope they punish this monster to the fullest extent of the law. I am not so sanguine about our "Justice" system's courage to do so. Weak lawmakers make weak laws. We have too many weak lawmakers. We have people who have been on death row for the most heinous crimes. They've been there for decades. Appeals, motions blah blah blah. Their victims are dead. They live on.

It's just plain wrong and innocent children like Jessica shouldn't have to pay for it.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you" (And don't mind sharing an opinion from time to time)

Presidential Debate Primer

Tonight's the night. Romney vs Obama at DU. Time now to manage expectations.

1. First, this really isn't a debate but more of a series of highly rehearsed responses to expected questions from the moderator, regardless if they actually deal with the question. It's all about the sound byte. It's a game of "Gotcha!"

If a candidate begins a response with  "The fact of the matter is ...." it means they aren't going to answer the question. Or at least try not to because ...

Jim Lehrer is tonight moderator. I've met him a couple of times. He's a nice guy but a no-nonsense questioner. This is his 12th Presidential Debate. You can't fool him. He's also convinced organizers to make tonight's event more of an interview format with fewer questions, but longer segments for questions, answers and follow-up. He'll challenge every response with both candidates.

2. There's something else on the stage tonight. An 800 pound gorilla called the DEFICIT. It passed the $16 Trillion mark during the Democratic Political Convention. How much is $16 Trillion? Well, it's about $60 Thousand for each and everyone of us. Each and everyone. It will be even more tomorrow.

Both candidates will at least mention it, blame each other for it and the key will be if either offers some real ideas to reduce it. Not likely, as it could be perceived as a "gaffe" and you know what the media does with gaffes.

3. Speaking of the media, they will outnumber the actually number of real people in the audience or at least in the building by about 3-1. As a former television news director, executive producer and network field producer let me tell you that there really is no bias in at least the national media. It's just that most of the national folks are out or touch with reality and any sense of what goes on here on Main Street USA.

One could say they're mostly stupid, but that would be impolite. Let's just use the term "Obtuse."

I can't tell you the number of times I got bizarre requests for story coverage for stories that didn't even exist. These folks live and work in Washington DC and New York City. They go to cocktail parties with the same people they cover and often inter-marry! It's incestuous. They have little if any clue as to what the real issues are that impact us outside of their world. (See previous comments on deficit)

After the debate, these folks will tell us what really was said and what it meant. They don't think we have enough intelligence to make up our own minds on what we heard. It's true.

Do don't listen to them. They're, you know, obtuse. Make up your own mind. Be your own pundit.

I will say this about local media, they're by and large very fair. They live and shop where we do and their kids go to the same schools as ours. They're clear in separating opinion from reporting. They live with us here on Main Street USA. They're worth a listen.

4. It's important we respect the process. President Obama and Governor Romney have had the courage to put their name on the ballot, to say "this is what I believe in and this is what I want to do." We are free to agree or disagree with either candidate but let's respect the fact they made a deeply personal decision to run for office. Along with wearing the uniform, the most patriotic thing anyone can do is run for office. Act accordingly, especially on Social Media. Name calling and F-Bombs do nothing to bridge the scary political divide that exists in America. (See earlier comments on deficit)

5. Do your home work. I suggest reading the report of the Simpson-Bowles Commission. It was ordered by the President, and both Republican Senator Alan K. Simpson along with former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles put together a remarkable roadmap to dig us out of a frightening financial hole. (See earlier comments on deficit)

The report, was filed away in some box. Like the Ark of the Covenant scene from that Indiana Jones movie.

Here's the link to the report. 

As you read, or at least skim through the report you'll see there's very little sugar inside to let the medicine go down. The trouble is, it will take no small amount of political courage to make the tough decisions that need to be made in Washington and executed here at home. (See earlier comments on deficit.)

Look, listen, ponder as if the future of our nation depends on it. Because it does.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

E-Mags in a word: Cool!

I like to read. You know, stay current on stuff I'm interested in from news, to sports to hobbies. Like most folks, I subscribe to several magazines and have done so for years.

But like everything else, the publishing business is going digital. Publications like Businessweek, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic and even Model Railroader are all available on digital devices like your iPad.

The best part is you get your issue days before the print issue ever arrived. And it's more than just the same content in the print version. I just downloaded the latest issue. My favorite part, the "Leading Off" photos are incredible in a digital format. There's also sections for breaking news. The content evolves like it never could in print. Best of all, lots of video and interactive content.

Businessweek is also making good use of electronic delivery, with updated audio content and you can esaily share stories of interest with friends on Twitter and Facebook.

Our most recent subscription is to National Geographic. They're doing an absolutely fabulous job of transitioning their epic coverage of our world into digital content. Always a great read, it's become a great experience.

My hobby is model railroading. Model Railroader Magazine has been part of the hobby way before I was born. Now the magazine arrive via Zineo, and while not quite as elegant a delivery system as others, it's still fun to learn more about my hobby on my iPad.

Of course there are many other publications available digitally, you must have your own favorites. But what a grand experience when the content is digital shareable and ever changing.

Finally I rarely read actual books anymore, you know, the ones that sit on bookshelves. You can buy bestsellers for devices like the Nook or Kindle and of course my favorite, the iPad. Libraries have full digital collections and there's always a new read waiting for me when I digitally return one just completed.

The digital world can be bewildering sometimes, and often annoying. Especially Facebook during election season. But the digital evolution of magazines and books is here to stay and just going to be better and better. I like it!

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!!

The "Economic Plan" I want to hear

Both candidates for President are bombarding the airwaves and digital media with their economic plans. All are vague, lacking in any sort of meaningful substance and therefore a huge waste of our time and money.

Both candidates will be asked the same questions during the debates. Hopefully moderators will try and nail them down to specifics, but this is the answer I'd like to hear from either candidate.

"The day after the inaugural, I will schedule a 6am meeting at the White House. I am however, willing to drive to the capitol should meeting space be available. Invited are the following people:

The House Speaker and Minority Leader from both parties along with the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders. And me of course.

That's it, no aides just the 5 of us. A live video and audio feed will be available for any and all news outlets for the duration of the meeting.

We'll have plenty of coffee and healthy food because we'll need it. The first thing we're going to do is look each other in the eye and agree that what we're about to do is in the best interests of the people we work for, the American People. We understand that not everything we do will be agreeable to everyone, but the greater economic good is our goal.

Then we get to work. We will trim $1 Trillion from the deficit not matter how long it takes. We will look where to raise revenues in a fair and equitable way, but more importantly identify the waste we all know exists in our spending habits, which have been part of a broken process going back for decades.

This is not about blame, but fixing things and doing what's right. I'm sure we'll argue and tempers might flare so we can take a time-out if needed. But we don't go home until we've trimmed back that first trillion bucks. No smoke and mirrors, just the real deal.

When we're done, and we can do it, we will hold a joint news conference to share what we've done. In advance we'd like to apologize to our friends in the media as that news conference could happen at likely a very weird hour and frankly, we won't be looking our best as we'll be pooped and a little stinky. But we will tell you we have found a way to knock that first trillion from the debt. Real solutions, not projections or political hoo-ha. We will also agree to no political grandstanding. This is a team effort.

Then we'll go get a few hour sleep and get on with the business of governing. That said, we will meet again the following month to knock another trillion from the debt. Maybe we could alternate between the White House and Capitol. The important thing is we meet.

THAT is my economic plan."

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

SunRun Solar. So far so GREAT!

I've blogged a couple of times before about our switch to solar power here at home late last year. I've been interviewed by media about the switch a couple of times and asked this question both times:

"How is it?"

My answer is easy; "Exceeds every expectation."

It's been a very long, hot and dry summer. We set a record for the number 90+ degree days. Last year we used our AC very sparingly, it was just so expensive. Not this year, we had the thermostat set at between 76-78 degrees every day. No worrying about the power bill, because we were generating more power than we were using.

Some Stats:

1. We've generated 6761 kWh of power since installation last December. That 820 MORE kWh than we used. We have a new power meter that runs both ways. It's been running backwards all summer. At the end of the year we'll get a credit from the power company for the power we SOLD them! 
2. We saved 10278 pounds of CO2 emissions. To put it in perspective, the savings in emissions is equal to us planting 120 trees. Or NOT driving 10,669 miles.

We got our system through a company called SunRun. We had multiple options to either purchase, finance or lease the system. We chose the lease option, our monthly price being about half of what our previous electric would have been. The other advantage is we'll always know what our bill will be, comforting especially during long hot summers. Should we ever put our house up for sale, we'll just pay out the lease and be able to advertise our home as having free electricity.

Our goal with solar was simply to save money, but when you look at the positive impact it's had on the environment, it feels good. It also has me thinking of what things could be if more people gave solar a try.

The technology is just plain simple from installation to using every day. You can also go to your customer link on SunRun's home page to monitor your power use, along with the additional meter installed at the back of the house.

OK, I know the government is talking about all sorts of massive solar power "farms" using thousands and thousands of acres. Just not practical and you don't want the government involved in things anyways. Some neighborhoods up in the mountains are pooling resources for solar "gardens." Even on cloudy or rainy days, you're still generating power.

So whether on your own roof, or a community garden, solar works. It's easy and affordable.

Ka-Ching!

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Lies, Damn Lies and Political Ads

Each campaign cycle, the political ads keep on getting nastier and nastier. This year both sides have really raised the bar on nasty.

There are two types of ads; those produced by campaigns and those produced by Political Action Committees or PACS. By law, campaigns and PAC's aren't allowed direct contact but my guess is there is a lot of nodding and winking involved.

How bad is it? Both sides, directly and via their surrogates are saying some of the most hateful and untrue things about each other. These often outright lies are then further distorted to the point of nausea. How are we folks on Main Street served by all this? The answer of course is, not at all.

What's quite fascinating is the good work many media outlets do in fact-checking these ads. In just about every case, we learn the truth is being stretched a tad, OK a lot. By both parties. So why run the darn things? Either people are believing the ads or not believing the news.

Political "experts" say they work. These "experts" of course live in New York and Washington DC and are about as connected to us here on Main Street as Vladimir Putin. 

Our economy is in a world of hurt and the national debt passed the $16 Trillion mark before the opening gavel in Charlotte. If both parties don't come together, and quickly to deal with this issue we'll be toast. Period. We're in the back seat with Thelma and Louise headed for you-know-where.

I saw an interesting interview this week about all this with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. He'll be speaking at the DNC this week, but was talking about negative ads. A former restauranteur, he told about talking with a soda marketing executive about how negative advertising would work in the soda business.

In essence he said, if Coke started bad mouthing Pepsi, Pepsi would have to respond. It would escalate to the point where no one would buy either product. Hickenlooper is not a fan of negative ads. What I've always liked about the man is he never uses them. Remember his "Shower" Ads?

Up until recently, we didn't have a voice in all this. We had to just sit there and watch this crap. Not any more. Thank goodness for the DVR where you can skip through them. But Social Media, being used extensively by both parties, is also being used by the people they're trying to influence. Campaigns and PACS post  clever, is not entirely accurate graphics and urge followers to "Like" and "Share" them. People click without verifying. The response is anything but positive as flame wars break out.

All because of lies and damn lies. From both sides.

This nation is divided, dangerously so. Both the Democrats and Republicans seem hell bent on simply breaking us in half entirely.

Enough is enough. (I'm going to have a shower)

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Honoring the first, and last men on the moon.

We all mourn the loss of Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the surface of the moon. We honor that small step all those years ago and his passing is one great loss for mankind.

I never got to meet Armstrong, not a lot of folks did unless you worked directly with him. It was his nature to quietly go about life as a pilot, engineer and teacher.

I was fortunate to see two men who walked on the moon, including Buzz Aldrin who followed Armstrong to the lunar surface as the 2nd man to walk on the moon.

A couple of years ago I got to see the the last man to walk on the moon, Gene Cernan. He was honored by Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum with the 2010 Spreading Wings Award.

Here's a video we produced of his speech that night. While we remember Neil Armstrong for being first, let's not forget those who followed in his foot prints and more importantly, when if ever, will we go back.



Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Facebook Fatigue

I think I'm suffering from Facebook Fatigue. Granted it's not as bad as the heartbreak of psoriasis but it is what it is.

This has nothing to do with the over-hyped and underwhelming IPO by the company. It's all been documented, once in a while accurately by local and national media. I'll leave any thoughts of buying Facebook stock to you, your investment advisor and possibly your pastor. I'm not any sort of financial expert but Facebook is essentially a platform for about a billion freeloaders. I've never bought a product or service through Facebook and likely never will.

My question about Facebook is exactly what is it good for? (See above paragraph) It's supposed to be a fun place. One friend described her circle of friends as an online "Class Reunion" on demand. A cool notion for sure.

From a business point of view, it is a good platform to engage customers. Some businesses do a great job, keeping followers posted on good deals, new products and responding quickly to suggestions and complaints. Too often however, most companies presume that it's the 20-sometings who "get" social media because, well, they're kids and are experts at all things social.

Wrong.

Social Media, like traditional media is all about messaging and content. To paraphrase a great Duke Ellington tune, "It don't mean a thing if it don't mean a thing."

My main cause of fatigue however, is just how hateful so many posts are becoming. The source of it all is the current Presidential Campaign. One recent post from a friend accused GOP Candidate Mitt Romney, and by extension the entire party of "Hating women." Poppycock. Another post had a picture of President Obama next to a communist flag. Disgraceful. Whether or not you disagree with the man, respect the office.

Yes I agree that Candidate Romney should disclose more tax returns than he has, but at the same time I'd like to see the sealed school records of President Obama. Sealed? Why? But both can be asked for politely, and discussed politely. Granted it's the campaigns, sadly that are setting the tone for all this, but why must we be sucked into the cesspool?

Both campaigns produce lots of dubious graphics and videos, post them, then too many of us blindly click the "share" button. Which in turns ignites the firestorm of responses.

Then there's the foul language in so many posts. Why? Aren't we supposed to be friends? What ever happened to civil discourse?

I'm not going to leave Facebook, it's so much fun to see pics of family and friends, or hear about what they're doing and where. Love it. I've got so many friends I haven't seen in person for years, but this is the next best thing. I don't want to lose touch.

But the other stuff, at least right now is simply so much hoo-haw so no offense, if you post crap, I'm cutting you off. Glad to re-engage after the election.

I'm just so fatigued.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Bonfils Blood Center: A Community Treasure

 The folks at Bonfils Blood Center just released their annual report, and they did it online. The report impacted me in three ways:

1. We were honored to again produce the video elements of the report. (Pages 4 and 14)
2. I'm a regular donor, recently donating my 51st pint of O-Neg blood.
3. The fact the report is online, easily shareable and much more cost and message effective than the traditional glossy report you get in the mail.

But as Paul Harvey used to say, "Now ...for the rest ...of the story." We spent the first day of shooting video for the report at a blood drive, following the collected blood back to Bonfils HQ, watching the exhaustive testing and preparation of the blood supply to it being picked up by area hospitals. As smooth a running operation as I've ever seen.

We did all this on Thursday July 19. Very early the next morning, a gunman opened fire on theater-goers in Aurora, CO. Many died, many were critically injured and taken immediately to area hospitals. They survived because highly trained surgeons and ER staff had the most precious of elements available to them; Human Blood.

I talked with Dr. Eric Lung of Sky Ridge Medical Center afterwards. He told me, "Without that supply of blood, people would die." Bonfils made sure the blood was there and people survived. When I first heard the news of the shootings, I immediately thought about all I'd witnessed the day before, especially that box of blood being picked up by an area hospital.

While Bonfils was literally mobbed with people wanting to donate blood after the shootings, the hard fact is only 4% of eligible donors in Colorado actually donate. The two most common reasons for not giving are understandable. They hate needles and think it's a very time-consuming process.

The 4% who do give have just one reason for doing so. They know that when they donate, they save a life.

So let this 6+ gallon donor put you non-donors at ease. First, the Bonfils staff is highly trained and while you feel a bit of a poke from the needle when donating, it's just that, a little poke. Secondly the whole thing takes less than an hour.

Less than an hour of your time to save a life. Think on that. Bonfils' operating hours make it possible for must about anyone to fit that hour into their schedule.

Bonfils has 400 dedicated and talented staff. From the professionals who takes your donation either at a blood drive or a Bonfils Blood center, to the people that work so hard to make sure the blood supply is safe to those who prepare it for delivery to area hospitals, all are incredibly dedicated.

It's great that so many folks offered to help out after the theater shootings. But the need for blood is year-round. For accident victims, cancer patients, even routine surgeries the need is daily, make that hourly.

If you've never donated, I urge to try it just once. When you're done, know that you've saved a life.

It's a nice feeling. Even better when you've done it 51 times!

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Let's hear it for the Techies!

A couple of events the past week or so remind me to give a big SHOUT OUT to the techies who love and work among us.

This week's landing by NASA's Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory is nothing short of extraordinary. The darn thing took 8 months to get to Mars, and there was about a 8 minute window of disaster where they had to slow it down from 13-thousand MPH, release a drogue shoot, then this rocket hovercraft kind of doo-hickie slowly lowered the lander to the planet.

Extraordinary doesn't come close to describing the engineering skills that went into getting Curiosity to Mars where it's going to supply us with all sorts of data over the next couple of years. NASA needed the PR shot in the arm too, what with the Space Shuttle retired and us having to hitch a ride with the Russians to get to the space station.

Then there's the Olympics. We've seen some amazing performances, made even more amazing the the digital video technology being used. The best example being events like diving and gymnastics. Spectacular multi-image views of dives to vaults instantly. Plus we're watching on a multitude of video pipelines. As I write this I have one set of events on TV, another on my iPad.

A large number of the folks involved in bringing it to our various screens are actually controlling it all from New York, "Across the pond" from England.

Back to the Mars mission, Curiosity is sitting on a planet about 56 million miles away. How far is that? Well, it can take anywhere from 5-25 minutes for the signals carrying the picture data to reach earth. That's after the 8-month trip to get there in the first place.

The next big test will be to send a probe to Mars, then have it take off and return home to earth.

All of the above proof positive that science and technology is anything but boring. Thank goodness there are still some folks willing to dig deep into the science of it all, so the rest of us non-geeks can sit back and watch in awe.

Which this non-geek is doing!

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

The Unsinkable Missy Franklin

As I write this, 17 year old Olympic Swimmer Missy Franklin has won 2 out of a possible 7 medals; a Gold and a Bronze.

**** THIS JUST IN****

Make that TWO gold medals and a Bronze, Missy won her second Gold Medal in the 4X200 freestyle relay!

A huge success by any measure but Missy isn't finished yet.

While Missy got a lot of attention here in Colorado leading up to the games, the national and international media stayed tried and true to the stale concept of their made-up heroes. I doubt that Missy cared. She lives to swim, not for the headlines.

Well, the world now knows better. There is nothing made-up about her. Missy is a superstar in the pool, but in life as well. Leading up to the Olympics she stayed true to her school, Regis Jesuit. Others in her position, and we wouldn't have blamed them, would have put 100% focus on London, not a high school swim team.

Not Missy, who swam at the Colorado State Swimming Championships because that's who Missy is. Loyal to her school and community and Team USA.

After the horror of Aurora, near where Missy calls home, we needed the smile and infectious enthusiasm that is unique to Missy. I haven't met her, but know several folks who are friends of Missy and her family and they assure me what you see on TV is what you see in real life. Including busting those dance moves!

Missy has, and will be deluged with huge endorsement offers. All will be turned down. Missy is staying amateur so she can swim for Regis during her senior year and what ever college is lucky enough to snag her after graduation. At 17 years old, there are plenty of Olympics and endorsement opportunities ahead.

Since she was 5, Missy Franklin swims because she loves it. She's an honest, decent, smart and hardworking kid.

All of America and the world for that matter, can learn a thing or two from this 17 year old.

Athletes as role models? In the case of Missy Franklin, oh yeah,

Thanks Missy for all you do and especially who you are. We're proud of what you've accomplished, but more importantly the person you are,

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Pubic Relations

A Flight of a Lifetime: Thunderbird 8

Where does time go?

Looking at the calendar I realize it was 25 years ago this week that I had the flight of a lifetime aboard Thunderbird 8. Yep, a real F-16 flown by the USAF Aerial Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds.

                                                      A "Thumbs Up" before take-off.


One of the benefits of being News Director of KGWN-TV in Cheyenne at the time was seeing the team fly every year as part of Cheyenne Frontier Days. Most years, they'd take up a member of the local media or VIP for a ride. July 1987 was my year.

In the front seat was Capt. Bert Nelson, show narrator at the time. Capt. Nelson's story was an interesting one. He originally was an enlisted member of the Air Force, serving as a crew chief in England. He was able to secure an appointment to the Air Force Academy, got his commission and ultimately his role with the Thunderbirds.

I showed up on a warm afternoon with my camera crew, flight suit and no small amount of nervousness. I'd flown in high-performance planes before but nothing like the F-16B. (Two seater version of the F-16) I was fitted out with a G-Suit, my helmet and a plastic bag tucked inside my shoulder harness just in case the high speed maneuvers we were about to do didn't agree with my tummy! I was also taught "Egress" procedures in the remote case we would have to bail out of the aircraft.

When I strapped in, I understood what they mean when fighter pilots say they don't strap into an aircraft as much as they strap it on. The F-16 was then, and remains a powerful fighter plane. The Thunderbirds you see fly in the air shows are fully combat ready, and if the need would arise could be stripped of their brilliant paint schemes, painted over and take to the skies to defend our nation.

Just before take-off came the "Focus" moment when I flipped a switch on the left console to arm my ejection seat. Right then I knew I was doing something very serious.

Soon as we rolled down the runway, I got a quick lesson in what "Positive Thrust to Weight Ratio" means. The F-16 can climb, straight up while accelerating. Here's the view from the back seat as we fired up the engine and took off.

 OK, I know the "Top Gun" music sounds a tad corny now, but this was done back in '87!

Normally a demonstration ride lasts about 20 minutes or so, but when Capt. Nelson figured out I wasn't going to get sick, and knew how to fly a plane he asked me if I minded staying up for a while. As show narrator he didn't often get the chance to really wring out the airplane, especially in the wide-open space we had over Wyoming and Colorado. It took me about 3 seconds to say "YES!" so we stayed up for over an hour. Capt. Nelson let me fly the aircraft through the whole suite of maneuvers, including snap rolls, high-speed/high "G" turns and the like. The control stick of the F-16 is on the right side of the console, much like a game controller. It doesn't actually move, but senses pressure and works like a normal stick in combination with the rudder pedals and throttle to fly like any other plane.

We pulled anywhere from 6-8 "G's" on several maneuvers, especially the tight turns and a couple of high-speed pull outs we need near the end of the flight. One "G" is the equivalent of your weight, the more "G's" the more you seem to weigh. The higher the "G" rating, your vision starts to tunnel out as well. The "G-Suit" by definition, is a  "flight garment worn by astronauts and jet pilots that presses on the lower body to maintain the blood supply to the brain during rapid vertical acceleration."

Don't confuse what the Thunderbirds do as "stunts." Everything they do is a combat maneuver and if you fly fighters for a living, you darn well be be good at them!

But words just don't describe the experience, so here's another video clip:

While I didn't lose my cookies on the flight, I was physically exhausted at the end of it. Testament to the great mental and physical shape fighter pilots have to be in.

The memory of this flight will last me a lifetime, and looking back it seems like it was just yesterday. You only get one opportunity to do something like this and I don't plan on ever forgetting it!

So the next time you see the Thunderbirds fly, know what a skilled and dedicated group of fliers they are. They'll be the first to tell you they're not the best at what they do. What they will tell you is they represent the best.

                                    Capt Bert Nelson, my wife Ronda, me and daughter Jennifer.

I'm not sure where Capt. Nelson is now but I bet it involves flying. I do know the Thunderbirds still fly today. If you haven't seen their show, make it a point to do so.

As a reporter I've had the opportunity for some other truly wonderful aviation experiences including takeoffs and landing aboard the Aircraft Carriers Kennedy, Constellation and Ranger plus some hops with the Wyoming Air National Guard as they trained for both low-level tactical airlift drops and their missions as slurry bombers. Most recently I've worked with Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum and EAA producing videos about the WWII B-17 Bomber, "Aluminum Overcast."

All great stuff. But ...at the top of the heap, is that one day 25 years ago where I got to fly an F-16.

Thanks again to the United States Air Force for this extraordinary opportunity!

How do you watch TV?

I'm dating myself a bit here, but does anyone remember when TV was black and white with no remote control? You really didn't need one because you only got one or two channels. We had the first TV on our street when I was a kid and every day after school all the neighborhood kids came over after school to watch Mighty Mouse which came on at 4pm when the station signed on for the day!

And remember when stations "signed off," usually with a picture of the flag and the National Anthem playing?

Fast foward to 2012 and whew, not only do we have hundreds and hundreds of channel choices, but a growing number of ways to watch those channels. 24/7.

The dam broke with cable. Goodbye rabbit ears. For years when you moved into a house, the first order of business was to get the phone and cable hooked up. With cell phones, land line phones are disappearing and it's been decades since cable was the one and only choice.

Hook up? Hook up to what?

Cable is still around, but in the 90's satellite TV came on the scene providing cable much-needed competition and technology like the DVR which allows us to watch TV when we want and even skip through commercials.

The commercial skipping part is becoming a bit of an issue with broadcasters. I understand as I used to be in broadcasting and you make your money through advertising. If people aren't watching ads, advertisers aren't buying spots. That said, I also used to work for DISH Network. There's quite a spat involving Charlie Ergen and DISH Network with the broadcasters and even Congress is getting involved. (As if they have nothing better to do) The best part about skipping commercials is during election years. Just when you think both parties have sunk to new lows, they sink even lower. Election years are great skips years.

Charlie and DISH don't make me skip through commercials, they simply give me the choice to do so. About the only shows we watch live are sports and news. Everything else is hours or days later. And yes, we skip through commercials because you can watch an hour-long show in about 40 minutes. It's important to remember that broadcasters transmit over public airwaves, which we own. So it seems fair we should have the choice as to how we use our airwaves too.

Programmers are also getting into spats with cable and satellite providers. In this tough economy, programmer providers like satellite and able are doing their best to keep our monthly costs down because we are going elsewhere for TV. More on that in a moment but the bottom line truly is becoming the bottom line.

Major programmers "bundle" their programming. I won't get into names but let's say a major sports programmer with a monster channel also wants many of their other lesser-watched channels as part of the deal. So you know, cable and satellite providers pay a lot of money to carry major networks. That impacts how much they charge us. The issue is being held hostage in that if they don't carry and pay for the lesser-watched channels, they don't get the big one that attracts customers. Both DISH Network and DirecTV are involved in transmission agreement disputes with some pretty big names.

But now we take another leap forward as to how and where we watch TV.  We don't subscribe to HBO for example. Just not enough shows of interest at our house to warrant paying for it monthly. But in the case of some shows, Entourage the latest example, we simply waited for it to come out on iTunes. Who cares if we see a series now, or 6 months from now? Long as we get to see it.

Where do we watch those series or movies? On our computers, iPads and PDA's. The networks themselves offer most of their series on their own websites, (no commercial skipping) and you'd be surprised at the number of off-air free digital channels that are available. Plus outlets like Blockbuster and Netflix and yes, even bootleg on-line program offerings. We can also remotely access the satellite receivers at our house, long as they're connected to the Internet and watch programming from anywhere on an iPad for example, anywhere we happen to be. (Airports are a fave)

It's all getting very complicated and one thing is for sure, we as consumers are no longer beholden to just one source for our video entertainment. Free off-air, cable, satellite, Internet, iTunes, AppleTV and the list goes on and so does the type of screen we watch on.

Keep in mind, it's not the size of the screen that matters, just how close you are to the screen you're watching. I just watched a movie on my iPad with BOSE Headphones. Awesome. Less than an arm's length away it was like being in front of the big screen at home.

One of the toughest nuts to crack for consumers is the ability to just get only the channels we want without having to pay for a few hundred extras we don't watch. It's called "a la carte" programming and everyone in the industry has fought it tooth and nail, forcing us to pay for 200 channels when we only watch about 10 of them.

A la carte programming is here, well, almost. Consumers always find a way, and now technology exists to help us do just that. It's all going to get more complicated before it gets simple. Not as simple as that 12 inch B&W Crosley we once had, but in this high tech age, close enough.

Adding to the fun is the growing number of viewers who post on Social Media about shows while watching those shows. Watching TV is a multi-screen and multi-thumb experience.

Ultimately what's cool is many of the shows we watched like Bonanza and The Andy Griffith Show back in the day, are still playing all these years later. In today's hectic and digital world sometimes it's nice to pay a visit to Mayberry.

So ...how do you watch TV. Where? When? How?

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Frontier Airlines-So long and farewell.

I'm writing this on a Sunday evening in Atlanta at a hotel near the airport. I'm supposed to be on Frontier Flight 305 with my wife and two grand children.

We have long ago since stopped using Frontier as our main airline to Atlanta, the folks on the ground here are, well, incompetent and service on Frontier has slowly sunk to new levels each an every flight.

Our flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems. OK, that happens. How the airline handles the problem is what's important. First of all, Frontier has our contact information, they're supposed to call with any issues. They didn't call. Secondly, the flight showed "on time" on the info boards. After a LONG wait at check-in we were told what happened.

As far as flying out on a later flight on Frontier, we would have had to wait TWO DAYS to get seats. So we asked to be put on another flight, which ended up being on USAir for Sunday at 7am, connecting through Charlotte NC then on to Denver. At least we get there. Proof also the shortest distance between two points isn't a straight line, especially if Frontier Airlines is part of the original plan.

So we head over to USAir to double check the reservation and seat assignments, which I'm glad we did as Frontier gave us the wrong ticket coupons to use on US Air. So, back to Frontier's gate, getting the right coupons and finally, we hope after a few hours sleep with two young grand kids, we can make it home tomorrow.

Frontier, simply put, blew it. Absolutely the worst handling of a situation and thus, they lose long time customers. Frontier Airlines claims to be Denver's "hometown" airline, but they ain't my airline.

Shame on you Frontier. Poor management has resulted in even poorer employees on the front lines and of course it's we customers who take it in the shorts.

There are other choices, and we will indeed be using those choices. As for a new animal on the tail of your planes, may I suggest a horse's rear-end?

(We just got an e-mail from Frontier. Out flight has been cancelled!)

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Buckhead Pizza: Failed Expectations

The worst thing any business can do is not meet the expectations it sets for its customers. Case in point: A recent visit to Buckhead Pizza north of Atlanta.

We took our two grand kids for a night out because this is what the restaurant advertised:

Live music! Face Painting! Balloons! Kids make their own pizza! The key here being from "5:00-7:00pm" We arrived at about 4:45 so the kids could eat their pizza then enjoy the fun.

We waited and waited and waited. We asked the wait staff about the face painting. "She's stuck in traffic" was the response. She ended up arriving about 6:15 and while she did a good job, she was LATE. As for the kids making pizza, they did get to spread sauce, cheese and sausage on a pizza but at best it came back to our table warmed up, not cooked.

Like the face painter, the musician showed up late too. He was terrific, but the restaurant advertised him being there at 5:00pm, not after 6. Even our dessert was late. We ordered a brownie to share and it took 25 minutes after ordering. The excuse being it had been frozen and they'd forgotten to thaw them out. But during the 25 minute wait, not a peep until we asked WTF?

Oh yeah. NO balloons.

The worst thing any business can do is to set expectations, then not meet them.

In the case of Buckhead Pizza, it's a classic case of just that.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

(Solar) Independence Day

It's been a little over 6 months since we installed our SunRun Solar System working with REC Solar. We don't have any particular "Green" agenda, nor do we like the government ever mandating how we keep the lights on at our house.

While the politicians in Washington yack about grandiose solar systems and wind farms, the fact is like politics, the solar energy solution is local, local, local.

First of all every bit of the experience has exceeded expectations from initial meeting with the sales person to installation and the huge amounts of power were generating. Plus the emission we're not spewing into the air. We've also reached the point where we've generated more power than we've used, so at the end of the year we'll get a credit back from the power company.

Approval from our HOA took less than 24 hours.

Best of all, we didn't have to lay out any money at all. We decided on the leasing option, the monthly cost being about half of what we paid for energy. A win right out of the gate. And should we ever decide to sell our house, we'll pay off the lease and be able to market the house saying "Free Electricity."

During the current heat wave of multiple days of 100+ degree temperatures we're running our AC and fans without fear of a monster electric bill.

Here's what our system has done by the numbers:

1. Total power generated: 4,804 kWh.
2. Net energy used: -275 kWh
3. Carbon Dioxide NOT spewed into the atmosphere: 5,284 pounds.
4. Nitrogen Oxide NOT spewed into the atmosphere: 16.45 pounds.
5. Sulfur Dioxide NOT spewed into the atmosphere: 4.8 pounds.

We are lucky in that the part of our roof that has the 24 solar power panels on it faces due south and has no obstructions to we generate power from first light through dusk. But systems can be configured to make solar a winner where you live. Companies like SunRun and REC Solar are also looking into the concept of "Solar Gardens" where a group of homeowners for instance, can share a solar system.

Like everything else, the Free Enterprise system works just fine, including with solar power.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Want to help fire efforts? Here's the best way.

We can't escape either the Colorado wildfires or the coverage of the fires. It's horrific and so many of us want to help, to make a difference because we're saddened by what we see, and the smoke we smell all over the state. It's our families and friends impacted by this natural disaster.

Living here for 13 years, both in the South Metro area and in South-Central Colorado I'm all too aware of the dangers this summer, unlike anything any of us  can remember.

Good people want to help out. Lots of folks are just driving up to shelters and other areas with food, blankets, water and all sorts of stuff. While your hearts are in the right place, your efforts aren't.

As a journalist I've covered everything from forest fires, to hurricanes to floods. No matter how quick we'd be to the scene, the Red Cross was always there first. They'd be set-up and ready to feed, clothe and shelter folks along with being a great conduit of information for all those impacted.

The Red Cross is good at this sort of thing and have the communication pipelines in place with authorities to do the best job. They know the needs and provide them.

The brave crews on the front lines are taken care of, they have what they need to do their job, to eat and a place to sleep. Many of the victims of course, don't.

What can we do? Donate money. It's simple, easy and the most effective way for the Red Cross to get what's needed to those in need and where they need it. Donating money also keeps us out of the way. Disaster scenes are chaotic, but those on the scene are trained professionals. To pull up in the family car with a load of stuff doesn't help. You're simply in the way of people trying to do their jobs.

So grab your credit card or checkbook and donate. It's the best thing we can do.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

"Fast and Furious" turning into "Dumb and Dumber."

"Fast and Furious" turning into "Dumb and Dumber."

I wish I has some remote understanding of a government operation called "Fast and Furious." As near as I can figure out it involved sending assault rifles and the like to Mexico for use my drug dealers. Some dimwits, in government, apparently the ATF thought we could track the guns, then track down the bad guys who got them and bust them. This all started around 2006 and continues through today.

What happened is a US Border Patrol Agent ended up getting murdered by one of the guns. One of OUR guns. Fired by one of the BAD guys.

This sort of thing attracts the attention of Congress, which never passes up on the chance to hold hearings and get every one's name in the papers. Along with blogs, tweets and other Social Media and of course blogs like this one.

Records have been asked for, some have been turned over and as I write this some haven't which has ended up with the possibility of Attorney General Holder being held in contempt of Congress.

Which begs the question: If an operation started by a previous administration, was an operation so impossibly stupid, why is the current administration withholding information about it? The White House is invoking "Executive Privilege." A common practice going back to every White House since there was a White House.

Meanwhile the family of the murdered agent is left wondering just what the heck happened and why.

To recap, we send dangerous guns to bad people in Mexico, one of our own charged with defending our border is murdered and the folks in Washington are trying to make political hay out of it all.

Actually it's more like what's left of hay when it's been eaten by horses and "digested."

Fast and Furious? Nope. Dumb and incredibly dumber and we deserve better. Of course, everyone in Washington has long since cared about what "We the people" not only deserve, but are entitled too.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Buffett Rule? We need a Buffet Rule!

Warren Buffet says he should pay more taxes than his secretary. Truth be known is, he does. Actually he meant a bigger percentage of taxes than she does. It's ironic that Mr. Buffet, who I greatly admire has a foundation set up to distribute money to non-profits and other organizations when he leaves this world.

You'll note he's not donating his fortune to the Federal Government directly. Warren isn't stupid. Look at the great work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They're controlling every dollar of foundation money, how it's used and where it's spent. Again, no blank check to Uncle Sam.

Folks like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are successful because they demand accountability.

That hasn't stopped a lot of folks saying we should have a "Buffett Rule" and that wealthy people need to pay their "fair share" of taxes. Fair-Schmair. (I just invented a word!)

What we really need is a "Buffet Rule." Remember that GSA conference in Las Vegas? The one place they didn't eat was at the buffet. Buffets in 'Vegas ain't as cheap as they used to be but they're still cheaper than the main dining rooms. It's funny how easy it is to spend other people's money.

As Al Simpson points out, often with great humor, the problem is SPENDING. Taxing a few more millionaires won't make a dent in a National Deficit over 16 Trillion bucks. Cutting spending will.

I don't know about you, but we have this economic plan at our house. Spend less than we take in. We invest the rest. It's a good system and our CPA appreciates it. I do know it's a concept lost on the government.

Both parties are to blame. They blather about each other but they aren't making the hard choices to make the, yes, unpopular decisions they'll need to make to dig us out of a hole so deep you can't see the bottom. Government is Thelma and Louise heading for the Grand Canyon and we're along for the ride.

So, let's have less talk about a Buffett Rule, and focus more on a Buffet rule.

It's a start.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Order in the Court! (So how about cameras?)

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about the national health care law commonly referred to as "Obamacare." As divisive a piece of legislation that's come down the pike in a long time. But I'm not here today to talk about the political issues of the law, but rather what we're not seeing this week as the court hears arguments about the legality of the law.

The Supreme Court doesn't allow cameras inside the court during arguments. Our judicial system is one of the three branches of government, the other two being the Executive and Legislative. The founding fathers organized things this way to provide a system of checks and balances. The Executive and Legislative branches get tons of coverage.

Which leaves me with just one question: Why not the Judicial Branch? We get to see the confirmation hearings when a Supreme Court Justice is appointed. We just don't get to see them do the job we pay them to do.

As a board member of the Radio-Television-Digital News Association we fought hard at the Federal and State level for cameras in courtrooms. I represented RTDNA twice at the National Judicial College speaking on behalf of the issue.

Some negotiations were far less formal. In Wyoming, a fellow judge at a chili cook-off was indeed, a Judge! We got to talking about it, and it was the start of cameras in Wyoming Courtrooms. Thanks to the efforts of groups like RTDNA and enlightened judges cameras are common in most courtrooms.

Except for the highest court in the land, where the issue being dealt with is one of the most important of our times. We get to hear bits of audio and of course the courtroom sketches, which we in the news industry considered more cartoons than substance.

Cameras are with the President everywhere. C-Span provides coverage of both the Senate and House as they conduct the nation's business. As for the highest court in the land dealing with landmark decisions, us folks on Main Street are on the outside trying to look in. But the drapes are drawn and we're shut out. What we get to see is filtered through the media, pundits and plenty of opining.

Why not let us watch for ourselves and make up our own minds?

Here's to both order and cameras in the court.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Old Fashioned Customer Service in a Word: COOL!

We're in Georgia this week, enjoying, thanks to technology, the ability to work from just about anywhere along with spending quality time with family.

I ran an errand this morning, to get a fire fixed on our kid's minivan. The tire met a nail along the road, and while the leak was a slow one it needed to be fixed.

I took the car to Discount Tire in Buford, Ga. (A norther 'burb of Atlanta) They quickly got the vehicle into a service bay, there was bottled water and fresh coffee while we waited and the repair was done quickly. They also took time to check all the tires, lug nuts and other tire stuff.

They pulled the van around front and we were ready to go. No Charge! Getting a nail in a tire wasn't their fault but they fixed it free. They're betting that good care and customer service will lead us back to that store when it comes time for future business. They're not alone. Back home in Colorado we frequent Grease Monkey in Highlands Ranch, have done so for years because they just treat us so nicely.

The whole thing is Business 101. Treat everyone like a valued customer and they'll likely become just that, valued customers. Even better, we're likely to recommend these businesses to our friends and neighbors. Which in this blog, I'm doing!

Sadly, I don't think they teach this at the fancy business schools. Thankfully they do at companies like Discount Tire and Grease Monkey.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations